High court gives Punjab 2 weeks to remove land acquisition hurdles for NHAI projects

Chandigarh: To ensure that road projects of national importance carried out by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) in Punjab are not delayed due to unnecessary interference, including possession-related issues, the Punjab and Haryana high court has directed all authorities concerned to resolve these hurdles within two weeks. It includes pending statutory notifications and arbitration cases.
As per the HC order, courts that are seized with cases related to land acquisition have been asked to ensure encumbrance-free possession by issuing necessary orders. HC has also instructed police officials to take prompt action against unlawful disturbances affecting NHAI's possession, including deploying armed personnel and police pickets at project sites.
Direction has also been issued to the chief secretary and the DGP of Punjab to ensure action against officers or officials who are found in dereliction of their duties with regard to the acquisition of land. District administrations and police commissioners have also been told to give logistical support to executing agencies. The matter has been adjourned to March 21.
A division bench comprising Justice Sureshwar Thakur and Justice Kuldeep Tiwari passed these orders while hearing a plea filed by NHAI regarding difficulties faced in the acquisition of land for its projects in Punjab.
In its affidavit, NHAI informed the bench that pending possession as of Aug 30, 2024, was 268.52km in 15 projects, which was reduced to 113.47km as per the undertaking given before the HC up to No 30, 2024. Thereafter, not much progress occurred, and possession of 99.24 km is yet to be handed over, of which 78.42km is encumbrance-free, which can be handed over immediately. For the rest, steps are being taken, NHAI told HC.
Senior advocate Chetan Mittal, while representing NHAI, recorded that 5.44km had been taken back by landowners. This includes areas in Sangrur, Malerkotla, and Tarn Taran in respect of the Delhi-Katra expressway project, Mittal said. The senior counsel also brought to the notice of HC that a villager in Tarn Taran was not allowing the construction of one part of the main bridge. Repeated requests have been made to the police, but they are not taking any steps to protect the possession, the court was informed. Certain photographs were also shown to HC where unruly elements were trying to take possession in the presence of the police.